North Wales Police are assessing a complaint after alleged "anti-Welsh" comments were made during an edition of the BBC's The Weakest Link.

It is understood a viewer complained after contestant Alun Lloyd Jones from Ceredigion was voted off the TV quiz.

A fellow contestant told presenter Anne Robinson that Mr Jones was the weakest link because he was Welsh.

The BBC has defended itself, saying all banter was meant to be in good fun and did not linger on Mr Jones being Welsh.

It is understood that a viewer from north Wales complained after Mr Jones from Llanfarian, near Aberystwyth, was voted off the 9 January edition of The Weakest Link.

Mr Jones, who runs a village shop and post office and is a Ceredigion councillor, said on Monday he had not complained about the comments himself because The Weakest Link was "tongue in cheek" and he had been expecting some banter.

However, he said he had been unhappy about what had happened.

"We're not yet perceived to be a nation in Wales and that along with the comments about me being Welsh stuck in my throat," said Mr Jones.

"If I was black, Muslim or gay, I don't think the comments would have been made.

Anne Robinson was subject of a similar complaint in 2001 while on Room 101

"If anti-racism laws are there to protect people from other communities, then they should apply to people in Wales," said Mr Jones, who is 59.

Being naughty

The show's producer, Alex McLeod said there was some country and county rivalry between contestants on The Weakest Link and added: " In the past, Scots have voted off English contestants for being English and so on, but all banter is meant in good fun.

"The Weakest Link is a well established series that has run daily for most of the past five years. It is known for being naughty and a little outrageous.

"Both Anne Robinson's and the contestants' comments are very light-hearted and not meant to be taken entirely seriously. Contestants and viewers should be well aware of this premise."

A statement from North Wales police said they had received a complaint about the programme was being assessed.

In 2001, there was a similar complaint against presenter Anne Robinson. North Wales Police investigated and took no action.

That complaint had focussed on comments Ms Robinson made during an edition of Room 101.